All About Verbs (2)

One of the characteristics of the Japanese language is that the verb generally comes at the end of the sentence. Since Japanese's sentences often omit the subject, the verb is probably the most important part in understanding the sentence. However, Verbs forms are considered to be difficult to learn. The good news is the system itself is rather simple, as far as memorizing certain rules. Unlike the more complex verb conjugation of other languages, Japanese verbs do not have a different form to indicate the person (first-, second, and third-person), the number (singular and plural), or gender.
Japanese verbs are roughly divided into three groups according to their dictionary form (basic form).
Group 1: ~ U ending verbs
The basic form of Group 1 verbs end with "~ u". This group is also called Consonant-stem verbs or Godan-doushi (Godan verbs).

• hanasu （話す） - to speak
• kaku （書く） - to write
• kiku （聞く） - to listen
• matsu （待つ） - to wait
• nomu （飲む） - to drink

Group 2: ~ Iru and ~ Eru ending verbs
The basic form of Group 2 verbs end with either "~iru" or "~ eru". This group is also called Vowel-stem-verbs or Ichidan-doushi (Ichidan verbs).
~ Iru ending verbs

• kiru （着る） - to wear
• miru （見る） - to see
• okiru （起きる） - to get up
• oriru （降りる） - to get off
• shinjiru （信じる） - to believe

~ Eru ending verbs

• akeru （開ける） - to open
• ageru （あげる） - to give
• deru （出る） - to go out
• neru （寝る） - to sleep
• taberu （食べる） - to eat

There are some exceptions. The following verbs belong to Group 1, though they end with "~ iru" or "~ eru".

• hairu （入る） - to enter
• hashiru （走る） - to run
• iru （いる） - to need
• kaeru （帰る） - to return
• kagiru （限る） - to limit
• kiru （切る） - to cut
• shaberu （しゃべる） - to chatter
• shiru （知る） - to know

Group 3: Irregular verbs
There are only two irregular verbs, kuru (to come) and suru (to do).
The verb "suru" is probably the most often used verb in Japanese. It is used as "to do," "to make," or "to cost". It is also combined with many nouns (of Chinese or Western origin) to make them into verbs. Here are some examples.

• benkyousuru （勉強する） - to study
• ryokousuru （旅行する） - to travel
• yushutsusuru （輸出する） - to export
• dansusuru （ダンスする） - to dance
• shanpuusuru （シャンプーする） - to shampoo

The ~ te form is a useful form of the Japanese verb. It does not indicate tense by itself, however it combines with other verb forms to create other tenses. It has many other uses as well. To make the ~ te form, replace the final ~ ta of the informal past tense of the verb with ~ te, and ~ da with ~ de. Learn the ~ te form of the basic verbs. Here are some examples.

• nonda （飲んだ） - nonde （飲んで）
• tabeta （食べた） - tabete （食べて）
• kita （来た） - kite （来て）

Here are some other functions of the ~ te form.
(1) Request: the ~ te form kudasai

• Mite kudasai. （見てください。） - Please look.
• Kiite kudasai. （聞いてください。） - Please listen.

(2) The present progressive: the ~ te form iru or imasu (formal)

• Hirugohan o tabete iru. （昼ご飯を食べている。） - I am having lunch.
• Terebi o mite imasu. （テレビを見ています。） - I am watching TV.

It is also used to describe a habitual action and a condition.
(3) Listing successive actions
It is used to connect two or more verbs. The ~ te form is used after all but the last sentence in a sequence.

• Hachi-ji ni okite gakkou ni itta. （八時に起きて学校に行った。） - I got up at eight and went to school.
• Depaato ni itte kutsu o katta. （デパートに行って靴を買った。） - I went to department store and bought shoes.

(4) Asking permission: the ~ te form mo ii desu ka.

• Terebi o mite mo ii desu ka. （テレビを見てもいいですか。） - May I watch TV?
• Tabako o sutte mo ii desu ka. （タバコを吸ってもいいですか。） - May I smoke?

More About Japanese Verbs